Whether you are a seasoned speaker or a neophyte with glossophobia, the fear of speaking in public, there are basic strategies you can employ to ensure your presentation is smooth, well-crafted and well-received. Speaking in front of your peers, a boardroom full of investors or an audience waiting for an inspirational message all employ the same basic strategies for success.

Know Your Subject

It’s much easier to talk freely and confidently about something you know intimately than on a subject that’s foreign to you. With proper preparation, you should be able to spout off statistics, refer to anecdotal stories and provide clear, concise information on any subject. Know your topic before you ever hit the stage even if you use a multimedia presentation to go along with your speech. The prepared research will boost your confidence, allow you to improvise when necessary and answer questions from the audience if they arise.

Prepare

Once you’ve done the research and know your topic well, you should prepare for your presentation by writing out your speech or at least the talking points you want to cover. One of the most important aspects of a presentation is your opening statement. It’s during those first crucial 60 to 90 seconds that you can capture the attention of your audience or thoroughly lose them. Your opening remarks give your audience a preview of the topic and a chance to get to know a little bit about you. If you don’t write anything else down, write and memorize your opening lines. Keep your notes close by in case you need to refer to them and prepare a solid conclusion that wraps up your presentation in the manner you want it to, whether it’s an overview of the points you made or a call to action.

Control Your Voice

The tenor and strength of your voice adds to or detracts from the credibility of your information. A strong, clear voice portrays confidence in the subject and your conclusions, while a weak, tremulous voice indicates fear and trepidation. To give your voice the power to make effective presentations, start by relaxing. Your vocal chords tighten up when you’re tense. Then breathe to release pent-up anxiety and to relax your diaphragm from where your voice should emanate. With the added breath in your diaphragm, you then can magnify your voice, giving it added strength. Speak slowly enough so that you can articulate each word. Add facial and hand gestures to emphasize your speaking points. Gestures correlate with vocal variety, a boost if you tend to speak in a monotone voice.

Practice

If it helps, practice your presentation in front of a mirror. This habit allows you to critique your body language as well as your speaking voice and general demeanor. Do a dry run in front of colleagues or a friend who will give you honest feedback. Ask your trial audience to make suggestions and point out errors and missteps. Request positive feedback as well to boost your confidence and discover the interesting and informative aspects of your presentation that you want to make sure you keep for the final presentation. Time your trial run ensure you have enough information to fill the allotted time and to learn what you need to cut if your presentation runs too long.

About the Author

Linda Ray is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years reporting experience. She's covered business for newspapers and magazines, including the "Greenville News," "Success Magazine" and "American City Business Journals." Ray holds a journalism degree and teaches writing, career development and an FDIC course called "Money Smart."